#BTEditorial – High time for Integrity Legislation to become law

We commend the current government for initially bringing Integrity Legislation to the House of Assembly in 2020. After the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) made the issue an integral part of its 2018 campaign and promised to bring laws to address misconduct by those in public life, it was welcomed when the Bill was debated and eventually passed.

It took years for the Bill to be passed. The revamped legislation, which was amended after the original was defeated in the Senate in 2020, got the unanimous support of the 24 Members of Parliament who were present when the vote was taken in July 2023.

However, although it has been passed in Parliament, it has not been proclaimed. This means that, essentially, it remains in limbo.

The Integrity in Public Life Act (2023) is meant to deter and punish corruption by politicians and senior public officers, as well as chairmen, and high-ranking officers of state-owned enterprises.

It requires this category of persons in public life to declare not only their personal assets but those of some relatives in order to serve.

Under the Fourth Schedule, ‘Conduct For Person in Public Life: Use of Office’ it is stated: A person exercising public functions shall not use his office for the improper advancement of his own or his family’s personal or financial interests or the interest of any other person; engage in any transaction, acquire any position or have any commercial or other interest that is incompatible with his office, function and duty or the discharge thereof; use or allow the use of public property or services for activities not related to his public functions; directly or indirectly use his office for private gain; or use his official influence in support of any scheme or in furtherance of any contract or proposed contract with respect to which he or a member of his immediate family has an interest.

The conduct of public officials has been under scrutiny in recent weeks. Political pundits and the average Bajan have been asking: What is the status of the Integrity in Public Life legislation?

The question particularly arose after a court case revealed that a $7500 cheque was written to Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw by local firm Errol Clarke Associates.  Bradshaw explained the money was a charitable donation to be used towards her annual Christmas hamper and food voucher programme.

The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) president demanded that the deputy PM be fired but during a national address earlier this month, Prime Minister Mia Mottley made clear that Bradshaw committed no legal fraction and declared the case closed.

We believe that because of the nature of our political system and the fact that the average Bajan has an interest in the country’s affairs, it is really in the interest of the government to move with haste to get the Integrity Legislation in place.

We will never fully rid ourselves of contentious issues that may arise that concern people in public life; therefore, we must put systems in place to ensure transparency. We must remember, too, that justice must not only be done, it must also be seen to be done.

As a society, we have a habit of trying people in the court of public opinion. Therefore, the law is needed not only to protect the State but protect all officials in public life as well from being at the centre of any situation that could be in breach of the law.

We therefore urge the PM and her government to reapply the same zest, energy and vigour they exercised on the political platform in 2018, about the issue of integrity, to ensure that the law is not only passed but proclaimed.